Help wanted: Applicants must be comfortable working 40 feet in the air for long hours in all types of weather and dangerous conditions while providing excellent customer service.

That doesn’t sound like a job many of us would sign up for, but fortunately for San Patricio Electric Cooperative and its members, we have a team of folks who embrace that challenge—our linemen.

On Monday, April 9, Lineman Appreciation Day, SPEC will join cooperatives from across the nation in recognizing the employees who keep the lights on.

Electric linemen do not often receive the recognition they deserve. Linemen across our service territory work every day building and repairing lines to ensure the overall reliability of the system. They are the unsung heroes who stand at the ready to respond to outages caused by storms, accidents and anything else that may knock out power. They are the ones who, through their tireless efforts, help ensure the system reliability of your member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative.

Our linemen, as well as linemen from all across the nation, truly deserve this special day of recognition.

We recognize all electric linemen and crew members for the services they perform around the clock, often in dangerous conditions, so that our members can enjoy the conveniences and safety electricity provides.

Perhaps you have seen them rising in their bucket trucks in howling winds and torrential rains, or in freezing, icy conditions—working around the clock near high-voltage power lines until electricity is restored to every member in our co-op community.

Or maybe you saw them working to repair damage from Hurricane Harvey, caked in mud and covered in swarms of mosquitos. No matter the challenge, they are always willing and eager to help restore a critical need to our communities.

On April 9, please join us by taking a moment to personally thank a lineman for the work he or she does.